by Shirley Anderson

The Third Annual Pajama Drive is nearing its end with hundreds of pajamas collected. More are needed to meet or surpass the goal of 1500 new winter pajamas. The Westerly Armory, site of sorting and storage is abuzz as volunteers box pj’s in kid sizes from infant to teens. These will be distributed by fi ve local agencies during the first two weeks of December: River Front Day Care, Groton; Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center; RICAN, and the Jonny Cake Centers in Westerly and Peace Dale, RI.

To give new winter pajamas to local children in need, use one of these drop off sites by December 2nd: Stonington Free Library, Stonington Community Center, Curves in Mystic, Westerly or Wakefield, RI; Wheeler Library, North Stonington Congregational Church; Westerly Senior Center, Westerly Library, Webster Bank in Westerly, RI; Washington Trust, Charlestown, RI, Pier Pizza in Wakefield, RI, or the Peace Dale Library in Peace Dale, RI.

Shirley Anderson, Project Coordinator and retired UCC Clergywomen says “This is not a Church Project. There are scores of contributors from Scouts to Grange members, Rotarians and Elks, banks, pizza parlors and physical therapy patrons, women exercising at three Curves sites and book club attendees. Part of the pleasure of this program is the excitement that it raises among us all. Who doesn’t love to hunker down in toasty nightwear during the cold winter?”

Anderson is known as the Jammie Grammie. The name evolved out of the fact that her own nine grand kids are given pajamas every Christmas. “I was drawn to the idea of giving beyond family when a woman in Millbury, MA where I was serving as minister, collected pj’s to distribute to the homeless in Boston. The folks at First Congregational Church of Millbury sent me into retirement with 15 pajamas, saying that I should collect more and give them to youngsters in our new area. That’s what I’m doing, but certainly not alone. People of all ages are pitching in. It is a worthwhile effort that is most gratifying.

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